In California water news this weekend, Natural disaster is inevitable in California. And it can define a governor’s legacy; Newsom’s and Cox’s visions of California’s governorship radically differ; Governor Brown signs bill requiring state to control Sativa Water District serving Compton, Willowbrook; Trump signs bill requiring independent inspection of Oroville Dam; Supreme Court: Fate of species law may hinge on fight over lowly frog; EPA: Pruitt’s gone with investigators on his trail; and more …
In the news this weekend …
Natural disaster is inevitable in California. And it can define a governor’s legacy: “Between trips upstairs to gather treasured photographs and important documents, Diane Francis stood at her living-room window and stared over the hillside at giant black plumes of smoke. The view was eerily familiar. Seventeen years earlier, she and her husband stood on the road leading to their property and watched as their house burned down, devouring everything they owned. “It’s stunning to have the fire in front of you again,” Francis said. … ” Read more from the LA Times here: Natural disaster is inevitable in California. And it can define a governor’s legacy
Newsom’s and Cox’s visions of California’s governorship radically differ: “Sometimes it seems that California’s two candidates for governor are running for different offices. Democrat Gavin Newsom casts himself as the leader of the state’s resistance to President Donald Trump, pushing big-ticket issues such as health care, education and climate change. Republican John Cox has focused on pocketbook issues that are narrow in scope but emotionally charged – repealing California’s increased gas tax, and problems at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The contrast in approach shows how differently the candidates see the issues facing California, and the role they would play in addressing them. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee here: Newsom’s and Cox’s visions of California’s governorship radically differ
Governor Brown signs bill requiring state to control Sativa Water District serving Compton, Willowbrook: “The Sativa Water District, which faced criticism for its handling of dirty water in Compton and Willowbrook, will be under new control. Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill Friday that will require the California State Water Resources Control Board to appoint an administrator to take control of the district. … ” Read more from KABC here: Governor Brown signs bill requiring state to control Sativa Water District serving Compton, Willowbrook
Trump signs bill requiring independent inspection of Oroville Dam: “President Donald Trump recently signed into law a bill which requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to conduct an independent review of the Oroville Dam facility. The 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill requires that the licensee of the Oroville Dam request the U.S. Society on Dams to nominate independent consultants to prepare a risk analysis. That analysis will be considered with the next safety review of the dam in 2019. Congressman Doug LaMalfa, R-Richvale, issued a written statement in support of the action on Thursday. … ” Read more from the Oroville Mercury-Register here: Trump signs bill requiring independent inspection of Oroville Dam
Meet the newest recruits in California’s war on climate change: Carbon farmers: “Loren Poncia’s idling pickup shudders in a powerful gust of afternoon wind in western Marin County. Inside the warm cab, he scans the sun-browned hills through his binoculars, counting his grazing cows. Poncia raises beef cattle. As he sees it, though, what he is really doing is raising soil. “I’m growing grass to feed to my cattle, but it all comes down to having high-quality soil,” said Poncia, who owns Stemple Creek Ranch with his wife, Lisa. He is among more than 80 farmers now engaged in a state-funded program aimed at increasing carbon concentrations in California’s soil. ... ” Read more from Capital Public Radio here: Meet the newest recruits in Caifornia’s war on climate change: Carbon farmers
Ultimate guide to wonders of the Delta: “Like any highway, the River Road (Highway 160) was designed by engineers. But its path was not dictated by geometry and physics so much as geography and hydrology. In the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, everything is dictated by the rivers.The landscape, the transportation, the recreation, the cuisine and the culture. The region includes some of the state’s most important wetlands, some of its quirkiest history and some of its most colorful places to eat. Here’s our guide to some of the promising pit stops on a delta road trip. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: Ultimate guide to wonders of the Delta
12,734 miles and counting: The 50th anniversary of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act: “Fifty years ago, the tide was turning in the war in Vietnam, the civil rights movement was in full swing, and the cold war was raging—but American industry was booming. The United States Congress and the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, however, recognized the danger that industry and development posed, particularly to America’s rivers. Responding to that threat, President Johnson signed the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (“the Act”) into law on October 2, 1968. Now, fifty years later, it is possible see where the Act has been successful, where it has met challenges, and where it has developed along the way. ... ” Read more from the University of Denver Water Law Review here: 12,734 miles and counting: The 50th anniversary of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
Supreme Court: Fate of species law may hinge on fight over lowly frog: “The Supreme Court will open its new term Monday with a hapless frog from Mississippi. The dusky gopher frog is at the center of a high-stakes case that could shape endangered species protections for years to come. Once common across the South, the amphibian is now struggling to survive, with most living around a single pond in Mississippi. Government scientists say the frog is one of the 100 most endangered species in the world. The Fish and Wildlife Service sought to protect the endangered frog’s habitat, plus other areas in Louisiana that could make a suitable home. … ” Read more from E&E News here: Supreme Court: Fate of species law may hinge on fight over lowly frog
EPA: Pruitt’s gone with investigators on his trail: “Scott Pruitt left EPA, but his problems remain. Multiple investigations are still pending against the former administrator, involving everything from his pricey travel back home in Oklahoma to his $50-a-night Capitol Hill condo rental tied to a lobbyist with business before EPA. Those inquiries will continue to plague Pruitt and the Trump administration as their results come out in the coming months. And if Democrats take the House in November, Pruitt’s problems could grow. His foes on Capitol Hill would then hold subpoena power, which they might use to haul him in to testify about his raft of ethics allegations. It all comes as Pruitt looks to move on and his successor tries to move past the scandals that swamped the agency. … ” Read more from E&E News here: EPA: Pruitt’s gone with investigators on his trail
In regional news and commentary this weekend …
City of Ukiah agrees to pay Sanitation District $7.5 million to settle lawsuit: “A settlement agreement approved by the Ukiah City Council Friday has the City of Ukiah paying the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District $7.5 million to dismiss a lawsuit the agency filed in 2014. According to settlement documents released by City Clerk Kristine Lawler, the city has agreed to pay the district $984,310 within the next 30 days, then begin making annual payments of $1 million starting a year from now. … ” Read more from the Ukiah Daily Journal here: City of Ukiah agrees to pay Sanitation District $7.5 million to settle lawsuit
PG&E settles lawsuit over pollution from old power plants in San Francisco: “Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has agreed to monitor and possibly clean up any harmful pollution found in the San Francisco Bay near the Marina and Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhoods to settle a lawsuit over discharges from power plants a century ago. The settlement was announced Friday by the San Francisco Herring Association, which claimed in a 2014 lawsuit that carbon gases and coal tars from the long-shuttered plants were seeping into the bay and killing herring. The deal, approved by a federal judge, also includes $4.9 million in payments from PG&E, some of it to the herring association and the rest for habitat restoration and cleanup. ... ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle here: PG&E settles lawsuit over pollution from old power plants in San Francisco
Turlock: Below-average water year concludes: “After a short respite from drought conditions thanks to a historically wet 2017 in the San Joaquin Valley, the conclusion of the 2018 water year shows that California may not be out of the woods just yet when it comes to lacking water. This past precipitation year, which began Sept. 1, 2017 and ended Aug. 31, saw 30.9 inches of rainfall — 5.2 fewer inches than the historical average for the area, or about 85.6 percent of average for the date. … ” Read more from the Turlock Journal here: Below-average water year concludes
What is Proposition 3 and what does it mean for Kern County? Supporters and opponents weigh in: “A bond measure on the CA ballot this Nov. could have major implications for water in Kern County and throughout the Central Valley. Proposition 3, also known as the Water Infrastructure and Watershed Bond Initiative, is one of 11 state-wide measures set to appear on the ballot on Election Day. Supporters say prop 3 would allow the county to import more water from the north and would provide clean water to the state’s disadvantaged communities, but opponents say it’s not good enough. … ” Read more from Channel 12 here: What is Proposition 3 and what does it mean for Kern County? Supporters and opponents weigh in
Cachuma Lake water supply holding up despite prolonged drought and weak winters: “The rainy years have not returned to Santa Barbara County but fortunately the current water supply management plan has held up as the area awaits a wet weather pattern, whenever that occurs. The Santa Barbara County water data as the month of September ends shows a Lake Cachuma level at about 32 percent. The lake had a release recently for downstream users which takes place annually. The release ended earlier this month. … ” Read more from KEYT here: Cachuma Lake water supply holding up despite prolonged drought and weak winters
San Diego County Water Authority stops work on desalination plant at Camp Pendleton: “The San Diego County Water Authority Friday announced it will cease work on a seawater desalination plant at Camp Pendleton because of excessive permitting and cost hurdles by the State Lands Commission. The Water Authority’s Board of Directors approved a $4.05 million contract to develop the desalination pilot facility in 2015, with additional funding from state and federal agencies. However, the necessity for the plant has decreased as local municipalities like the City of San Diego have developed their own water purification programs. The Water Authority claims that the State Lands Commission added additional permitting hurdles as the need for the plant decreased. … ” Read more from ABC 10 here: San Diego County Water Authority stops work on desalination plant at Camp Pendleton
Along the Colorado River …
With water shortage looming, Arizona officials look to reach Colorado River drought deal: “With reservoir levels falling along the Colorado River, Arizona’s top water officials say they are making progress in talks toward a set of agreements for cities, farmers and tribes to share in water cutbacks and join in a larger proposed deal to prevent Lake Mead from dropping even further. Since July, state water managers have been leading a series of biweekly meetings to work out details of the proposed drought-contingency plan. After their latest three-hour session Thursday, the two officials leading the talks said they are optimistic about finalizing agreements within Arizona in November so that the Legislature can sign off in January. … ” Read more from Arizona Central here: With water shortage looming, Arizona officials look to reach Colorado River drought deal
And lastly …
Satellite images reveal humanity’s abusive relationship with Earth’s most precious resource: “Rivers are veins that nourish human civilization. They fill our glasses with drinking water, irrigate our fields, nurture our livestock, and generate electricity. But our reliance on these crucial waterways is rarely harmonious. “I think rivers are treated as a renewable resource when they’re really not,” John Bolten, a hydrologist and the associate program manager of water resources at NASA’s Applied Sciences Program, told Business Insider. “It’s remarkable how many people are dependent on access to clean water. If rivers are not conserved and used properly, it’s a detriment to everyone.” … ” Read more from Business Insider here: Satellite images reveal humanity’s abusive relationship with Earth’s most precious resource
Precipitation watch …
Chance of rain in the forecast: From the National Weather Service: “Unsettled weather will occur this week in California. A weak low pressure area over Oregon may bring some light showers into early afternoon over the northern mountains before ending. First storm of the wet season will increase chances for winter-like weather in the mountains Tuesday and Tuesday Night for the Sierra Nevada above 9,000 feet. A low pressure area over the Pacific will then move close to the area to impact the weather Monday through Wednesday. The greatest widespread threat will occur Monday night and Tuesday.”
Also on Maven’s Notebook this weekend …
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About the Daily Digest: The Daily Digest is a collection of selected news articles, commentaries and editorials appearing in the mainstream press. Items are generally selected to follow the focus of the Notebook blog. The Daily Digest is published every weekday with a weekend edition posting on Sundays.
Maven’s Notebook
where California water news never goes home for the weekend
